Chapter two
Alpha 17 stood in a LAAT a few hours after their victory. They'd managed to come into contact with the natives of this world. Luckily they were human and spoke galactic basic. Alpha was deployed to talk with their planets' governor. He could hear chatter on the comms in his helmet. His two shock troopers, temporarily acting as bodyguards, were boasting about how they beat back the aliens.
"Shot that big blue bastard right between his eyes." laughed one- a former lieutenant.
"How do you know you hit him between the eyes?" Alpha asked, looking back at the trooper. "Did you examine the body after you shot him."
The trooper was silent. Alpha knew he probably should've let the trooper have his moment, months of total despair was tough to go through. But Alpha knew this was no time to get cocky.
The ship landed the doors opened. Alpha exited there ship to view the colonies town hall. Alpha saw the governor, his face was blank, devoid of emotion. At the governors sides were two ODSTs holding suppressed SMGs. He had a Spartan-II in forest camouflaged armor flanking him.
Alpha looked up at the Spartan warrior, who towered over the governor with a blankness that rivaled the governors own.
"Are you sure you need my help?" Alpha asked, turning his attention back to the governor.
The governor's lips thinned but otherwise showed no emotion. "We don't have enough Spartans, not to mention Navy-wise we're behind the curve. It's almost like trying to beat a guy with a knife."
"I hate to break it to you governor, but we've only got one warship. And the rest of the Armada is scattered." Alpha replied, "But we're even with the enemy on the ground. We just have to talk some logistics through."
The governor nodded stiffly, "right, follow me to my office and I can explain the situation further."
Alpha nodded in sequence, and followed, "And I will endeavor to share the terms we wish to have. Please keep in mind, these terms are negotiable to an extent."
The governor led the way, the Spartan-II trailing behind to the side. Not far, never too far. The ODSTs stayed on the landing platform, as did Alphas own shock troopers turned self-proclaimed bodyguards.
They entered the governor's office. It was sparsely furnished, a chair behind a well-worn desk, with a laptop taking up space on it. On the wall behind the desk was a weathered bookshelf filled with faded, but well-organized books. Alpha dispassionately looked at the laptop, clearly, their tech was far behind that of their enemies. They would need a miracle to win with the tech they had. Or as a Jedi would put it the will of the force
Alpha noticed the large, armored, spartan warrior was watching him closely examine his moves. The man didn't trust him and that was understandable. After all one alien race just tried to exterminate your own race why should you be so quick to trust another?
"I'll go first," Alpha said in a ploy to earn the spartan's trust, "We were clone soldiers of an organization called the Galactic Republic. However, the Republic died simply put and we were seen as a threat to the new regime. So they exiled us and our generals to what we referred to as wild space in what was practically a death sentences. Until we intercepted your communication and decided to help."
"Seems we were both in rather unfortunate and dire situations before our paths crossed," The Governor replied about to go next, "We are a colony of the UNSC this world we find ourselves on is named Marathon. A war wages with an alien alliance known as the Covenant who wish to exterminate us. Now, this planet is far from Earth our home world. So military aid from the UNSC is limited to a few Marines a single Spartan super soldier as you see and four ODSTs. The Covenant showed up and attacked our best defensive weapons which we call mac cannons. After that, they were about to glass the whole planet. That was when you very conveniently showed up. Now I have no doubt they will be back. You say you've got a warship perhaps if we can use it to evacuate."
"Depends on where," Alpha started, "We are running low on fuel and we haven't been gifted a chemist like others in our Armada meaning we can't use your planet's resources to make fuel. So depending on how far the planet you want to be evacuated to is. It might not work and we could die in the soul-sucking darkness of space."
"Then I'd doubt we'd even get close to Earth," Replied the governor, "It seems if you wish to stay here it'll be a fight."
"Sir I was literally born to fight," Alpha replied, "We can get and position some of our ground vehicles down here in a few hours. I need a map out of your settlement. Also, I need housing for my men."
"I can get you both, name's governor Warren should you need anything else."
In orbit commander, Vill stood in full body armor on the bridge of his Venator as technicians were running diagnostics to make repairs to the ship. Vill was trying to establish contact with another Venator. However, as communications failed his greatest fears started coming true. Ships were losing fuel and disappearing with their whole crews. Then he decided to channel to Kenobi's ship he'd been elected Admiral of the Armada if he was gone it was truly over.
"This is the Traveler receiving." Said a clone communications officer stating the name of the ship.
An amazing feeling of relief came over Vill. At the same time, joy entered his soul creating a smile under his helmet. They had done it, they had saved everyone.
"Traveler, this is Commander Vill of the vanguard. We've discovered a habitable planet I repeat we've discovered a habitable planet."
There was silence for a moment. Vill wasn't surprised the trooper needed time to process that. Then he saw the holo-screen come up with the blue figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi cheering could be heard in the back around.
"Good work commander I will work on rerouting the whole Armada to your position we should all be at your location in five standard days," Kenobi said.
"Sir," Said Vill the smile under his helmet fading. Kenobi's as well sensing the distress in the clone, "The planet is involved in some intergalactic war. One which we are currently involved. We managed to repel the attacking forces but seeing the level of technology they have access to I find hard to believe you will reach our location before they. Is there any ship with two days max from our position."
"Well, commander I had most of the fleet regroup as we had to abandon some of the senators due to fuel shortages. However, there is an Acclamator near your position. We managed squeezed twenty thousand soldiers into it. It can get to your current position by day three do you think you can hold out till then?"
Vill then ran statistics threw his head. They had one warship a republic Venator to be precise with a ground team of five thousand soldiers not including possible casualties. Vehicles wise they had turbo tanks, AT-TEs, walkers, and a wide range of aircraft. There was no telling what capabilities the enemy had. His odds weren't great but three days that Acclamator would arrive then they could definitely make the extra two.
"Give me one second," Vill said then turned to one of his technicians, "You are there any gas giants within the system."
"One." The technician replied his specialty was analyzing solar systems.
"How's the gravitational pull?" Was Vill's next question.
"Weak."
"Good," Vill said then turned back to Kenobi formulating his plan, "Alright sir there's a gas giant in the region I'll have one of my men give you its coordinates. The Acclamator should seek refuge there just in case the atmosphere over our current world is filled with too much enemy air traffic. We will then work together to get it safely in orbit."
"I will inform its general good luck commander."
The communication cut. All eyes were then on Vill everyone wanting to know the commander's ingenious plan for lasting three days against an unknown number of hostiles. Even the pilots were present.
"Alright, boys we've been faced with a challenging one, unlike anything I've encountered in the clone wars. Especially since we're not going against an overwhelming force of idiotic droids. No, expect the enemy to be skilled and intelligent sentient beings. With that being said if three warships approach from what I can assume is hyperspace we're kriffed. That is in an open firefight anyways," Vill started, "I need all technicians plotting courses at every damn point around this planet with ten different courses for every damn point. We're going to play games with these aliens our starfighter pilots best to do the same. LAAT pilots you will not sleep until every last ground vehicle we have is deployed for Alpha to use. Everyone else can get rest but be on high alert the second an enemy craft approaches the fights on."
Cody and the rest of the clones had been gathered in what they were told was the capital city. A city left standing due to their intervention. Though they hadn't come soon enough to save several other cities and small villages on the outskirts. Those had been struck hard and many had died before. For many clones, it brought up their morale to know they had ended genocide. However, Cody was a former marshal he thought ahead. This was only the beginning they'd be back in greater force. They had just entered a war something Cody hoped he'd never have to do again.
The clones were gathered in front of Alpha at some landing platform as soldiers were in a scramble to unload vehicles and then move them off to some defendable position.
"Alright, I got word from Vill we need to last a minimum of three days till reinforcements have a chance at arrival. I talked with the natives who have things called Mac cannons which we can use to fend off warships from the ground. The enemy known simply as the Covenant disabled them. I have deployed scouts to check out the damage and if possible repair the Mac cannons. From there, our objective will be to work with local forces in order to keep those guns active. Now until the covenant has arrived the civilian populace has been nice enough to allow us to use their homes for some well-needed rest. I suggest you use the opportunity but be on your feet for when the time comes we will be faced with an enemy like none other than before. But we will repel them."
Every one then saluted Alpha as if the war was still on and he was a general. Then they dispersed to try and get rest.
Minutes later Cody found himself walking with Bly whose unit he'd been attached to a long with Gree and a few other troopers. This included A10 who was assigned to a small squadron of pilots tasked with planetary defense and ground support. Bacara had been assigned to a different unit along with Neyo. Bly and Bacara had both volunteered for command positions. Cody and apparently Gree as it seemed were less keen on that part.
"Here we are boys," Bly said as they arrived outside a large house that had words they were told meant liberators welcome by the ODST whom Gree met much earlier.
Bly knocked the door opened to a welcoming face of a woman whose husband had died in the war.
"Welcome," she replied.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Bly replied.
They entered and looked around. Cody was unsure whether it was all right to take his helmet off. Gree saw a couch and decided to make that his bunk for the night. Setting his carbine down next to it as he jumped on.
"Hope you don't mind Ma'am," Gree said about to remove his helmet.
"Not at all." The woman replied, "But wouldn't you rather have a bed?"
"I thought I'd let the other men pick their beds first," Gree replied.
The woman then showed the squadron to different rooms in the house that used to keep a family of six before the invasion. Cody entered his bunking with Bly in a room with two beds. Bly then laid his rifle against the baseboard as he removed his helmet.
"O." The woman said. Bly looking at her for a moment, "I wasn't aware you were human after all the last helmeted foreigners I saw were decently not."
"Not exactly human," Cody said removing his helmet, "Clones would a better description."
"Well, whatever you are everyone's grateful for you." The woman said, "Names Ann if you need absolutely anything else."
"Thank you, Ann, but I and my brother would simply like some much-needed rest," Bly said just about ending the conversation.
Minutes later Cody laid down on the bed. So it seemed that getting involved in someone else's conflict had perks. It still didn't change the fact they were told this voyage would be a fresh start to a new life off the battlefield and he was back doing the exact same thing. Perhaps it was fate or better yet will of the force.
Most clones were resting. This was not the case for Republic commando Sergeant Boss and ARC Captain Fordo. They were conducting recon making sure the covenant really was gone. They traveled around via speeder bike with two trained BARC troopers accompanying them.
They had a word from a few pilots patrolling the area there was a mysterious movement not too far from the city. It was marked on their HUDs. Boss saw it was only a few meters off and squeezed his breaks. Fordo copied as did the two troopers. If it was simply natives then they didn't want to run them down. And if it was the enemy Alpha wanted one alive for questioning so stealth was key.
Boss then got off and raised his DC17M blaster carbine ready to move out. Fordo then raised his blaster pistol in the air. The Barc troopers got out DC15 carbines. The small four-man team moved out quickly sprinting towards the marked position ready for actions. It brought back memories from the clone wars for Boss and Fordo.
If Boss was being honest with himself he was glad they ran into the covenant. Life in which he wasn't getting shot at and shooting at something just wouldn't be the same.
They all stopped as they strolled up a hill to overlook the marked area. There they saw a very small covenant outpost with a small contingent of grunts and a few jackals on duty on the outside. On the inside, they weren't sure. No one made a noise. Boss used simple hand signals to communicate what he wanted. Fordo then nodded agreeing with the plan.
Two grunts patrolled around on duty carrying plasma pistols. This was as the two jackals supposed to be on guard were asleep. The Sangheili would be angered when he woke up knowing his direct orders were defied.
One of the grunts went around the corner to see Boss and Fordo waiting for him. He flinched about to yell but he was flustered by their presence and didn't react nearly fast enough. Boss hit him with a stun bolt. Fordo was then quick to cuff the unconscious body.
The other grunt became worried about his comrade and was about to go check up on before he heard rustling. He turned to see the two BARC troopers rifles aimed at him. The two men fired in sync. The grunt fell dead in an instant. The Jackals were thrown awake by the blaster fire but were not quick enough to react. The BARC troopers shot them down as well blaster bolts burned in the two jackals chests. Then an elite with an energy sword drawn out charged outside. The elite then thrust it forward right through one of the BARC troopers. The trooper hung on the blade. His lifeless body dropped his blaster rifle. The other trooper opened fire getting three rounds off before the elite threw his comrade off the blade. Then swung it cleaving the other trooper in two.
Boss and Fordo zipped around the corner to see this. Boss was quick to fire off his DC17M the blaster bolts striking the head of the alien creature blowing threw the shield then the head. The elite was thrown violently to the ground. Frodo walked over looking around with his pistol drawn. He saw his two men cut up. He knelt down and picked up the energy swords handle from the ground.
"That's an interesting design for a lightsaber," Boss remarked then looked at the two troopers, "They couldn't have possibly seen that coming."
Fordo, was far to use to the sight of dead clones from his unit he didn't give it too much thought. The trooper was silent simply clipping the interesting weapon to his belt then walked back towards his speeder.
"Never took you as one to collect war trophies from enemies you didn't kill," Boss replied Fordo didn't say a word as he took off back to base on the speeder bike. Just great. Boss thought to himself realizing Fordo had just stuck him with the prisoner and clean up.
Hours later Alpha 17 had turned city hall into his own base of course with the governor's permission. War had excited Alpha every aspect of it including the thought of his own demise. Furthermore, he had respect for competent enemies. The CIS was highly incompetent for the most part relying on overwhelming numbers to win. They had one quality general at max. Not to mention they were simply puppets in a game no one knew about. That's what really pissed off about the clone wars was it was rigged the whole time. Men died in what was a game where no matter what you did the outcome was unavoidable. It annoyed him he had been a simple piece in that game. But what was going on here wasn't a game it was an opportunity for Alpha to show his true potential and that excited him.
The ARC met the Spartan two named Michael M16 he noted many people called him the M16 as some allusion to a classic weapon from their planet. Gree who had taken the time to talk to the humans said it was the symbol of the American military during countless wars. One of interest the Vietnam war. A conflict in earth history in which the former superpower known as America got involved in a conflict with what were communist forces. The nation of Vietnam caught in a civil war they decided to intervene. It was a brutal war and by the end, many American soldiers had questioned what they had fought for. More interesting to Alpha was the fact a bunch of technologically inferior rebel fighters had managed to beat the most powerful military force at that time. Just how was perhaps a course of research for later. For now, he had his own war to fight.
"I don't suppose you've got a plan?" The Spartan said, "As you requested this meeting."
"I'm forming a strategy," Alpha replied he could still sense the distrust in the warrior's tone, "And for the sake of both our people I need your cooperation. I've heard you've fought this conflict the longest. Tell me how do the Covenant usually attack."
"Their overall goal is to wipe humanity from the face of the galaxy," Michael started terrible memories flooding his mind, "They do this by sending small fleets to rain death from orbit after taking out our anti-air systems. A large ground invasion is rare and only happens if they have a reason. Usually revolving around their very odd and ridiculous religious beliefs."
"What if we manage to serve their air support?" Alpha questioned, "And forced them to fight us in the open on the ground."
"Unless it's a major invasion force. If you could somehow manage to completely cut off their support and force them into a war of conquest we could prevail. Especially with the level of technology your men have brought with them." Michael replied a little more trusting.
"Then that's our strategy cut off their air support and neutralize their ground forces." Alpha concluded, "It seems the winner of this war is the one who controls the skies."
"Indeed it is. And how do you exactly plan on doing this?" Questioned Michael as the UNSC had tried this exact strategy and it had failed numerous times.
"I can assure you our pilots are some of the best-trained in the whole galaxy we can use our fighters and interceptors to take out their fighters. And our bombers with the support of our warship can bomb their warships. Vill can figure that part out. Then utilizing a combination of vehicles and infantry we can take them down here. Which leaves the question what's our fighting strength from your people."
"We had ten thousand before the invasion," Said Michael stressing how lethal the threat really was, "We're down to two thousand."
"What about the civilians if we can arm and give them very very basic training we might be able to last long enough for reinforcements to arrive."
"That's actually a good idea," Michael admitted feeling dumb for never having tried that, "I can send word through the city and surviving villages then the governor can draw up a draft."
"Needs to be done quickly I'm sending my men to recruit anyone fit for combat," Alpha replied.
"I'd advise caution some of the surviving villages are pro insurrection and do not trust the UNSC their very own authority figure. I highly doubt they'll trust one alien to them."
"I'll keep that under consideration," Alpha replied then saw Boss and Fordo returning with a prisoner, "Thanks for your cooperation."
"If it means saving the planet I'll do it," Michael said placing his bias aside, "But when the dust settles then what becomes of this relationship."
"The way I see it your people took ours in after being rejected by our own government I'd hope for a very close relationship. But we can discuss that when we get there. After all, what's the point if we're all dead."
"I suppose you're right in that matter. Being dead really would affect our ability to build a relationship," Michael replied in somewhat of a joking manner, "Your men seem to need your attention."
"Wait this information could prove useful for both of us." Alpha 17 replied.
Fordo walked over with Boss who was shoving the grunt's back with his blaster. Alpha immediately noticed the absence of the two BARC troopers he'd sent with them.
"What happened to the other two?" Alpha questioned knowing they had died but wanting details on how.
Captain Fordo stopped and grabbed the energy sword from his belt. He then held up in the air remembering how the elite used and activated it. The blue double-bladed sword ignited lighting up the black visor on Alpha's helmet with its shimmering magnificent.
"This happened," Captain Fordo replied.
Alpha looked at the blade. It was like a lightsaber almost but the blade itself was more artistic. It was beautiful to Alpha who'd never encountered such a weapon. However, it raised worries seeing as how it dispatched two men. How many did the enemy have on hand?
"That's energy sword," Micheal M16 replied, "You could probably figure that part out for yourself it's used only by the upper class of Sangheili hierarchy. Not that common on the war front. This, however, does mean you killed an elite of higher ranking."
"Damn," Alpha cursed, "You took the wrong man alive."
"Fierfek," Boss replied, "How were we supposed to know besides who's to say this grunt doesn't know what his master did."
"We'll find out soon." Alpha said looking at the grunt who was shivering in the presence of mysterious armored figures, "Neyo will take of our friend here. I trained him in enhanced interrogation techniques seeing as how cold the trooper could be. I can imagine he won't be too pleased. Two men from his old unit were killed by the grunts master. Our little friend is going to learn how to sing." Alpha said staring down at the grunt.
Day One
Cody awoke on the floor. The bed just didn't feel right and he didn't get nightmares on the floor. Perhaps it tricked his brain into thinking it was still at war. Which it was but the comfort of a luxury bed was something he'd never had. He looked around to see Bly was already gone. He hadn't bothered to wake him some commanding officer he made.
He got up and reached for the helmet above him about to place it on. He checked his com to make sure Alpha hadn't sent something he missed. However, he detected an interesting aroma in the air. It was definitely meat. He decided to check it out leaving his room.
He followed the smell to the kitchen Gree and Bly waited for him the rest of the troopers had already left. Cody looked at the table to see what he knew were eggs next to meaty skins of some kind. He took a seat and put his helmet on the ground.
"Where are the others?" Questioned Cody.
"Told them to immerse themselves in the local culture until we get called in. Except for A10 who was ordered by Vill to return to the ship." Bly replied his arms crossed, "Eat the food our very gracious host cooked up what they call bacon."
"So why wasn't I waken?" Cody asked as he ate. He found the food wasn't half bad.
"I didn't think it would be right to wake you while it was still dark," Bly admitted, "Couldn't sleep too many dreams about the Felucia."
"So what did you do the whole night?" Cody questioned.
"Nothing at first," Bly started, "Then Ann was also awake so I took the time to learn about the war from her. It's been waging for ten long years, Cody."
"Ten?" Cody questioned knowing the clone wars were close to four when it ended, "And there's no clear winner."
"Well, the humans are on the losing end."
Great. Cody thought in his head as if he should've expected to inherit a winning war otherwise they wouldn't have needed to intervene. Their communicators then all went off in sync. They answered them.
"This is Alpha 17 everyone report in for mission briefing we've acquired valuable information from a prisoner extracted last night."
"Alright looks like we're moving out." Bly replied, "If Bacara were here he'd say something along the lines of hope we get to shoot something."
"I'm going to thank our host of the housing and the dinner and then I'll join you," Cody replied.
"Thank her for all of us won't you," Bly replied placing his helmet on.
Cody nodded then entered the kitchen to see their hostess cleaning up something. He stood at attention.
"Ma'am." He said getting her attention, "We've got orders to move out we're very grateful for the food and housing."
"It's not an issue, after all, there would be no food or housing if you hadn't intervened," Ann replied. Cody respectfully nodded then departed.
Moments later they had all gathered in front of Alpha who had Boss to one side and Fordo to the other side. Those were two men who everyone respected as much as a Jedi general for their experience in the war. They were also the first two men to volunteer for the crew of the vanguard of course after the founders Vill and Alpha. It was a unique crew in the fact it had no Jedi. Not all the Jedi left after the failed coup believing they could try a rebellion. There was also a time limit on how long they had to leave and there was worry they hadn't access to enough ships to house everyone. So the pioneer was considered some of the bravest waiting for all other troopers to board the other ships first risking execution and venturing forth without a Jedi at the helm.
"Alright, small enemy outposts remain scattered about. We don't know where they are but we've deployed our pilots to bomb anything that doesn't resemble a human village. Another covenant attack force will arrive soon according to the information Neyo extracted from our prisoner. We need to ready for an attack today. In fact, some of your jobs will be to go to the neighboring villages and recruit fighters who are physically fit for war. Then we will begin non stop training until the moment of the covenants arrival. The rest of you will prepare the city for battle. We have to last three days as you know," Alpha said briefed, "Now we are the crew of the Vanguard we are as fierce as they come. We will show this covenant just what that means. For years the covenant has gone around the galaxy slaughtering these people for their kriffed up religion. Their attacks have gone undeterred they believe they the supreme military force in the galaxy and therefore can and will do as they please. We will show them otherwise. When they land planetside we will engage the enemy with more than they could have ever imagined. We will send them to their kriffed up gods and show them their military dominance means fierfek compared to us. And we will show absolutely no mercy the only survivors will be those who have fled the battlefield. And those survivors will have seen such violence we will plague their dream until the day they die. The covenant will no name fear our might when we are done. Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur!"
It was a good speech. Cody admitted that especially with the last phrase Mandalorian for today is a good day for someone else to die. However, he was unsure as to how the battle would play out. Three days was all they had to last. But it would truly be a hard three days once the enemy arrived.
Vill spent hours watching the horizon his deck crew had taken shifts as they worked tirelessly to plot hyperspace routes to every quadrant of the planet from orbit. It was all apart of Vill's plan to essentially operate guerrilla warfare in space. He looked over the horizon. The part that worried him the most was their enemy didn't use hyperspace they couldn't detect their movements.
"Sir." Said one of the analysis, "I'm detecting ripples on the subatomic level."
"Excuse me?" Questioned Vill.
"I figured we can't detect them in whatever they use to travel. But I can reset the detector to monitor particle movement and monitor the change in movement."
"I see why they call you Brainiac," Vill replied, "Now explain what you're trying to say."
"They're here." The analysis replied.
"Kriffing hell Brainiac why didn't you just say that!" Vill shouted.
Three covenant warships jumped ou oft slip space near the moon. Vill then saw the normal detectors pop up.
"Battlestations now and prepare to jump to quadrant thirteen but do not jump till I give the order!" Vill shouted and got to the intercom, "All pilots move out the time has come you know your positions."
A10 who had returned for fuel heard this and was quick to jump into the cockpit of his starfighter. Other pilots were quick to move with the bomber pilots ready in their ships waiting for orders. A10, however, knew exactly what he needed to do quickly firing up his engines. He watched as the Venator opened allowing starfighters and bombers to take flight. A10 fired off into space use he saw Vill's blue hologram appear on his dashboard.
"Alright A10 you're the official wing commander you're task is to cut off air support for covenant ground forces and see if you can't pick off a few of their dropships."
"On it sir." A10 replied then channeled to the rest of the fighters, "This is wing commander A10 everyone, be ready. The enemy will come hard and fast we have an objective to cover our brothers on the grounds. It's certainly going to be a difficult task as these aren't droids and it should be assumed their fully competent fighter pilots. So be on your toes and watch out for one another."
As he said that they saw the covenant air forces moving in a triangle formation with banshee fighters around the bigger spirit and phantom dropships. A10 etched his hand over his accelerator picking up in speed with his finger on the trigger ready to squeeze. The ARC 170s around him did the same.
He looked at his first victim one of those purple bug shaped starfighters he squeezed the trigger green bolts from both cannons on his fighter flew. He watched as the enemy fighter was struck and exploded. The ARCs flying next to him just as quick blowing a succession of three opening up a viewpoint to hit a phantom. A10 quickly switched firing one of his rockets off the explosive flying threw space striking its target with the whole dropship going up in a bright and vibrant explosion. The covenant Banshees in succession broke away from their drop ships as the black void of space became filled with bright vibrant lights and explosions. The dropship kept on their trail while their Banshee counterparts engaged in dogfights thinking they were distracting the clone forces.
The dropships had their objective get to the capital to make sure the last mac cannon was off. However, as they entered orbit they hadn't known Alpha had placed AT-TEs, AT-APs, and general purpose of anti-air guns in strategic locations across the city. Immediately they all began opening fire at the incoming covenant attack force. The sky above became filled with explosions as dropships were blown clean out the air killing their whole crews.
Alpha stood next one AT-TE on the front looking with his binoculars as the massive war machine fired off its cannon with a thunderous boom. He watched as his enemy desperately tried to power through many being blown out of the air.
"It's as if they didn't expect this much air resistance. What a tactical blunder." Alpha said to himself.
A group of for phantoms had managed to make it into the city one hovered above a civilian-populated street that was free of AT-TEs. However, to troopers with rocket launchers had made it to the roof. They both fired the explosions striking the engines of the drop causing it to swerve towards the ground into a building before exploding nearly killing the two clones. Another made it and managed to drop off its crew and left back towards orbit. The team of elites, grunts, and jackals began to move out. They then heard the sound of a republic chain gun crack as the grunts were gunned down by blaster fire from a trooper carrying a Z9 rotary cannon. Bacara and a few riflemen supported the trooper taking out the two elite marksmen with headshots as the rest of jackals were quickly gunned down. Two more dropped near an area outside the city. However, republic tanks moved in firing off rockets the cockpits of the Phantoms exploded causing the two ships to crash and explode the few soldiers who did get out were then gunned down by blaster and bullet fire.
Alpha watched as the dropship fell back losing many of the craft it had arrived with. He was pleased with these results not a single man lost on their end. However, if the enemy was smart they'd find a way around the fortress Alpha had constructed. The other troopers cheered as they watched the covenant fall back. Michael M16 looked over the horizon.
"While that was certainly an impressive show of force you got lucky," The Spartan two replied, "Now that they've tested our air resistance they'll find a different way to attack."
"I know," Alpha said a polite way of saying thank you captain obvious, "After they're not stupid I expect that they will attempt a ground assault next."
"Why is that what you would do?" Michael Questioned.
"It's how I would start. Test my enemies metal then strategize my ultimate plan to destroy him indefinitely."
"What's your plan to counter it?"
"In simple terms, you win some," Alpha started, "And you lose some."
Hoping for a chapter three. Might not have to wait too long as it is currently a 3rd of the way complete and thanks again for taking time to read and review.